Dispensing carton for paper cups



May 24, 1960 G. RElNr-:R 2,937,784

A DISPENSING CARTON FOR PAPER CUPS Filed July 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1F IG. 4.

INVENTOR. `GEIPC' ,QE/NER May 24, 1960 G. REINER 2,937,784

DISPENSING CARTON FOR PAPER CUPS Filed July 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2FIG. 7.

INVENTOR.

GEORGE QE//VE/Q WMM States The present invention relates to a dispensingcarton for paper cups and is concerned primarilyk with a carton of thetype in which the paper cups to be dispensed are assembled within thecarton by the manufacturer. When one of these cartons reaches the handsof the ultimate user, all that is required is to open the lower end andwithdraw the cups as they are needed.

A carton of the type with which this invention is concerned consistsessentially of two main parts. These are the carton proper which isformed from a blank that is folded into a structure of substantiallysquare cross section and which includes appropriate tabs and panelsproviding a top and bottom, together with a retaining-anddispensingelement which is assembled at the bottom end and interlocked therewith.This retaining-and-dispensing element serves to maintain the papercups`assembled Within the carton after the bottom is opened; and yetpermits atent of the cups to be individuallywithdrawn as occasion de- Ymands. t

In most instances it is desirable that a dispensing carton of this typebe suspended from a wallvor other suitable support. An important objectof the present invention is to provide a new and improved tab-and-panelconstruction at the, top which provides an adequate support for thesuspension of the filled carton.

More in detail, the invention has as an object the provision of a cartonof the character aforesaid which includes a tab that is adapted to befolded over a wall panel to provide a double thickness, with the tab andpanel being formed with aligned openings for receiving a nail, pin, orother support. In order to insure that this tab will remain in properposition, the outer free edge of the tab is slightly longer than thewidthof the. wall panel with which it cooperates; and the side edges oftheftab are t slightly beveled or inclined. p Thus, when the tab isvfolded f down into vthe carton, they side edges frictionally engage theadjacent wall panelsto provide a friction fit which securely holds thetab in position.

From the'very nature of the function which it is to perform, theretaining-and-dispensing element must, in the first instance, engage thelowermost of the stack of paper cups to hold them within Athel cartonand yet'must be yieldable so as to permit the Withdrawal of a cup, andresilient and elastic so that, after a cuprisy withdrawn, theretaining-and-dispensing element will return to its originalcup-supporting position.

An important object of the present invention is to provide, in a cartonof the character aforesaid, a dispensingt and-retaining element which isparticularly designed to interlock with tab-andpanel Structure on thebottom end\ of the carton so as to be securely supported in positiontherewithin and which is designed to give or yield as a cup is withdrawnand then return to its supporting position. i 1. l l More in detail, theinvention has asan object the provision,l in a dispensing carton ofthecharacter indicated, a dspensing-andretaining element comprisingatruncated, four-sidedpyramid the smaller end of which is located at2,937,784V a n Parental@ 2a las@ "ice the lowermost point of the carton,vwith'the upper wider end of each side having a panel integrally formedtherewith that is folded downwardly. The carton proper is formed withtabs on opposite side walls that arefolded upwardly to interlock withthe dispensing-and-retaining element. The upper portions of thesevtabsengagethe wider portions of the wall panels of the retaining element;Inasmuch as the dispensing-and-retaining 'element' is' supported bythese tabs on the carton, it is important that the upper edges of thertabs of thefcarton be as long as possible to provide a good supportingengagement. An important feature of the invention resides inthetab-andpanel construction of the carton which'permits'of this maximumlength in these supporting` edges.

Another important object Vof the invention isto provide, in a dispensingcarton of the character indicated, a four-y sided truncated vpyramidaldispensing-and-retaining element each side of which is provided -witha-prescored linel Y terminating at the bottom edge with the scoringsweaken? ing the sides to permit of their being distorted into'what is inelect an octagonal formation fthrough which a paper cup may pass. Thus,when a downward pull is imparted to a paper cup, the lip at the ,top ofthe cup, which defines the maximum diameter, will distort the four-sidedpyramidal structure into an voctag'onal structure,l through which thecup will pass. After the cup is withdrawn, the resilient and elasticproperties ofthe retaining-and-dispensing element will ca use it toreturn to its originalfour-sided condition through which the cups rwillnot pass of `their ownweight., a' y Various other more detailed objectsand advantages of the invention, such as arisein connectionwith'ca'rrying out the above-,noted ideas in ,apracticalenlmdirnent;vwill in part become apparent and in part beV hereinafter Vstated as thedescription of the invention proceeds.4 Y j The invention thereforecomprises a' dispensing carton for paper cups which consists essentiallyof a carton proper l ofsquare cross section havingaa tabfand-panelconstruc-` tion at the top providing a closed top, with a; double Vthick-v i vention, reference may be had to thegfollowing' descripvtionand accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure l is atop plan view of aflattened-out blank from which the carton is made; Figure 2 is a' topplan view of aV flattened-outfbla'nk from which thedispensing-and-retaining element is formed; n Figure 3 is a fragmentaryperspective of theupper end of the carton as partially folded intoassembledV condi-VV tion;Y Y f- Figure 4 is afragmentary perspectiveview of the bote tom end of the carton as closed; p Figure 5 is adetailed perspective illustrating the dis,-

pensingand-retaining element as folded into assembled position; n

- j Figure 6 is a perspective ofthe carton with a stack of cupsassembled therein andthe lower end openedinto n position permittingdispensingrof the cups. In this View Ythe carton is broken 'n away'topermit of illustrationen an enlarged scale; and Y Y .y l

4Figure 7 is a detailed vertical section throughthe'l er end of thecarton and is taken about on the plane r p5 resented by the line'7-7 ofFigure 6.

The' barton proper is made from a bunk rhaf'lis uus 'Y trated in Figure1 a flattened-out condition.'

blank is referred to in its entirety by the reference character B. Theblank B comprises four wall panels designated 10, 11, 12, and 13,respectively. Panel is defined by a free edge at 14, a foldA line at'15,a top fold line at 16, and a bottom fold line at 17. Integrally joinedto the panel 10 at the foldline 16 is a top panel 18 having side edges19 and 20 that are formed with slots 21 and 22 which define an end tab23 having rounded corners 24.

Integrally joined to the wall panel 10 at the fold line 17 is a bottompanel 25 having an end edge at 26 to which is joined an end tab 27having Vrounded ears 28 at the opposite sides thereof.

The wall panel 11 is defined by the fold line 15, a second side foldline 29, a top fold line 30, and a bottom fold line 31. Intcgrallyjoined to the panel 11 at the fold line 30 is aside tab 32 having a sideedge 33 that is spaced from and parallel to the side edge 2li of thetot: panel 18 and an inclined side edge 34 that is joined to a free endedge by a rounded corner 36.

. Integrally joined to the panel 11 at the fold line 31 is a supportingtab 37 defined by the fold line 31, side edges 38 and 39, and free endedge 40. It will be noted that this free end edge 40 is longer than thefold line 31, the extra length being provided by the curved point at 41.

The panel 12 is defined by the fold line 29, another side fold line42,'top fold line 43, and bottom fold line 44. A supporting tab 45 isintegrally joined to the panel 12 at the fold line 43 and is defined byinclined side edges 46 and 47 and a free end edge 48 that is longer thanthe fold line 43. The panel 12 is formed with a pair of openings 49; andthe tab 45 is formed with a pair of openings 50 which align with theopenings 49 when the tab is folded inwardly.

integrally joined to the panel 12 at the fold line 44 is a bottom panel51 joined thereto by fold lines 54 and 55, respectively. The bottompanel 51 is formed with a pair of angular slits 9 which are adapted toreceive the tabs 28 on the panel 27, as will be later described. Theside tab 52 is formed with a recess or notch at 8 that opensr onto'itsfree edge and which recess accommodates the point 41 on the supportingpanel 37. The side tab 53 is also formed with a recess or notch 56 thataccommodates a pointed end on another supporting tab about to bedescribed.

The wall panel 13 is defined oy the side fold line 42, another side foldline 57, a top fold line 58, and a bottom fold line 59.

Integrally joined to the side fold line 57 .is a securing strip 60 thatis adapted to be adhesively secured to the inner face of the wall panel110r adjacent to the free edge 14 in a well known manner.

Integrally joined to the panel 13 at `the fold line 58 is a side tab 61having an inclined side edge at 62 that conforms to the inclined sideedge 47 on the supporting tab 45. This side edge `62 hasa curved cornerat 63 that connects the side edge 62 to thefree end edge 64.

Integrally joined to the wall panel 13 at the fold line 59 is asupporting tab 65 having a free end edge 66 that is longer than the foldline 59 and provided by the point at 67 that is received in the recess56 of the side tab 53.

The blank from which the dispensing-aud-retaining element is formed isillustrated in Figure 2 and referred to in its entirety by the referencecharacter B'. The blank B includes `four wall panels 68, 69, 70, and 71,each of the shape of a trapezoid. Thus, the wall panel 68 is defined bya short base 72 constituting the free edge thereof, a long base 73 inthe lform of a fold line, and sides 74 and 75, with the side 74constituting a free edge and the line 75 a fold line'. Substantiallymidway the sides 74 and 75, the panel 68 is provided with a prescoredline 76 which weakens the materialfrom which the blank is formed alongthis line and permits of its being distorted. Y

Integrally joined to the panel 68 along the fold line 73 is a ap 77 thatis adapted to be foldedrdown into the position depicted in Figure 5. Toaccommodate this having side tabs 52 and 53 integrally I 4 foldingaction, notches 78 and 79 are formed at the opposite ends of the foldline 73.

The panel 69 has a construction and shape generally similar to the panel68, with the exception that there is no free edge; and both sides aredefined by fold lines as represented at 75 and 80. The panel 69 has acentral prescored line 81; and integrally joined thereto at a fold line82 is a llap 83. Notches 84 and 85 are formed at the opposite ends ofthe fold line 82.

The panel 70 is in all respects similar to the panel 69 and has a flap86 that is secured thereto at the fold line S7, with notches 88 and 88being formed at the opposite ends of the fold line 87. The panel 70 alsohas a central prescored line 89.

The panel 71 is also similar to .the panels 69 and 70, with a securingstrip 90 being secured to the side thereof at a fold line 91. Thissecuring strip 90 is adhesively secured to the inner face of the panel68 along the free edge 74- when the blank B' is folded into the positiondepicted in Figure 5.

ne panel 7l has a central prescoi'cd ine and has rl lap 93 integrallyjoined thereto along a fold line 94, with the latter having notches and96 at its opposite ends.

lt is evident that the blank B' may be folded into aretaining-and-dis'pensing element that is illustrated in Figure 5 andreferred to in its entirety by the reference character E.` This elementE includes a four-wall truncated pyramidal structure made up of the wallpanels 68, 69, 70, and 71, with the flaps 77, 83, 86, and 93 foldedoutwardly and downwardly in a manner illustrated in Figure 5.

The blank B is adapted to be folded into the carton formation that isillustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 6; and which is referred to in itsentirety by the reference character C. When the carton C is so folded,the blank B' is assembled therewithin at the bottom in the mannerdepicted in Figures 6 and 7.

ln the assembly of the carton C from the blank B, after the securingstrip 60 is secured to the panel 1t) along the free Vedge 14, thesupporting tab 45 is folded inwardly in themanner depicted in lFigure 3.As this action takes place, a good frictional engagement of the sideedges 46 and 47 with the inner faces of the panels 11 and 13, is createddue to the vfact that these edges 46 and 47 are inclined or beveled andthe free edge 48 is longer than the width 'of the panel 12 as vdelinedby the fold line 43. ,Thus Vthe supporting tab is securely held in itsdownwardly foldedposition in which the holes 50 align with the holes 49.Thus, a double thickness of material for receiving'nails or othersupporting elements is assured. t n

vArt this point, it isv well to-note that both theblanks B and B' aremade from an appropriate cardboard having required properties ofstrength, rigidity, pliability` and resilience. Material of this type isnow well known and available in the carton art.

After the supporting tab 45 has been folded into the position depictedin Figure 3, the side tabs 32 and 61 are folded inwardly; after whichthe top panel 23 is folded Yalong the line 16 and the end tab 23 foldedinwardly along the line defined by the slots 21 and inserted between theinner face of the tab 45 as folded inwardly and the edges 34 and 63. ofthe tabs 32 and 61. This completes the formation of the top structure ofthe carton.

As above explained, the element E is assembled witbin the carton C asthelatter is folded from the blank B. In this position, the supportingtabs 37 and 65 are interlocked with any two oppositesides of theretaining-anddispensing element E. AThus the supporting tab 37 is shownas being inserted between the wall 68 and flap 83; whilethe supportingtab 65 is inserted between the wall panelf70 and ap 86;V This condition,of course, is achieved by folding the supporting tabs 37 and 65 upwardlyand inwardly along the fold lines 31 and 59, respectively.

A stack of cups, referred to in its entirety by the reference characterS, and including a plurality of individual cups 100, is also assembledwithin the carton C prior to the closing of the bottom. The bottom isclosed by first folding Ithe side tabs 52 and 53 on the panel 51inwardly along the -fold lines 54 and 5S, respectively. The 4bottompanel 51 is then folded inwardly along the fold line 44, with the sidetabs 52 and 53 assuming positions engaging the inner faces of the panels11 and 13. The bottom panel 25 is then folded inwardly along the line17; and the ears Z8 on the tabs 27 are forced through the slits 9. Thiscompletes the assembly of the carton.

Operation While the manner in which the dispensing carton of thisinvention functions during use is believed to be obvious from theillustration of the drawings and description of parts given, it may bebriey outlined as follows.

When the carton reaches the hands of the ultimate user, it will, ofcourse, be filled with the stack S of the cups 100. The -bottom may beopened into the position depicted in Figure 6; and if desired the bottompanels 25 and 51 may lbe completely removed as by tearing or severingalong the lines 17 and 44. The carton may be suspended from anappropriate support through the medium of the aligned 4holes 49 and 50.

When a cup is to be dispensed, the user simply grasps the lowermost cup100 and exerts a downward pull thereon. The cups 100 are of a truncatedconical shape; and their upper wider end is ordinarily defined by bead101. As this bead 101 is drawn through the element E, the latter isdistorted so that it is transformed from the rectangular shapeillustrated in Figure to substantially an octagonal shape that moreclosely approaches the circular contour of the lip 101. With theretaining-anddispensing element E so transformed, the lip 101 of the cup100 will pass therethrough. However, once the cup 100 has completelycleared the element E, the latter will tend to return to its rectangularshape which will support the stack S within the carton C.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is herein setforth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to belimited to the exact constructions, dimensions, and designsillustratedand described, because various modications of these detailsmay be provided in putting the invention into practice within thepurview of the appended claims.

6 What is claimed is: y 1. In a paper-cup dispensing carton, arectangularwall cardboard structure comprising four wall panelsintegrally joined by fold lines and having bottom end edges, a pair ofsupporting tabs integrallyv joined to two confronting wall panels at thebottom end edges thereof and folded upwardly and inwardly into said wallstructure, and a cup-retaining-and-dispensing element interlocked withsaid supporting tabs, said retaining-and-dispensing element comprisingan inverted truncated pyramidal cardboard structure having its wallshingedly connected together by generally vertical downwardly convergentfold lines, and a flap integrally joined to the upper edge of each of atleast two walls of said pyramidal structure and folded downwardly, eachof said supporting tabs being inserted between a liiap and a wall ofsaid retaining-and-dispensing element.' l

2. The carton structure set forth in claim l in which each wall of saidretaining-and-dispensing element is weakened by a generally verticalprescored line extending to the free edge thereof.

3. The combination set forth in claim 4y in which each supporting tab isjoined to its respective wall panel by a fold line and Ahas a free endedge longer than said fold line.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which each wall of saidretaining-and-dispensing element is in the shape of a trapezoid with thesmaller base of the trapezoid deining the free edge of the wall and theflap integrally joined to the longer base by a fold line.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4v in which there is a notch ateach end of each fold line in the revtaining-and-dispensing elementwhich joins a ap to its respective wall.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS CanadaSept. 9,

